Baines as photographer

The artist, Thomas Baines, was also an accomplished photographer. Here he is seen during his Expedition to Victoria Falls, 1860-1864.  Baines entitled the sketch 'Photography under difficulties'.

Maritime Adventures at Natal 3: 4 ships wrecked in 28 hours, 1872

This watercolour by Thomas Baines depicts a unique event in the history of Port Natal: the wreck of four wooden sailing vessels on Durban beach within 28 hours, in June 1872. It was another indication of the dangers of anchoring out in the roadstead where a gale could easily cause high seas resulting in a ship's anchor dragging or her cables parting, leaving her helpless. This problem would not be solved until the harbour entrance was dredged and guarded by breakwaters.

The ships were the Grace Piele, Trinculo, Breidablik and Princess Alice, caught in a north-east gale. The only casualties were two mules, part of a cargo from the Grace Piele, which can be seen being dragged ashore in the foreground. No lives were lost. A large crowd of sightseers gathered on the beach. The lighthouse can be seen at the seaward end of the Bluff.

The location of the wrecks was near the foot of what would later be named West Street.

Captain Bell was not at hand to assist: he had died in 1869. 

Souvenir Saturday: Port Natal in the 1870s

Durban from Mr Currie's Residence, Berea 1873, by Thomas Baines.

This painting shows Port Natal as my ancestor Thomas Alfred Gadsden would have known it in the 1870's.

Seen are the Bluff with its new lighthouse at the seaward end and the path by which materials were conveyed for construction of the lighthouse. In the bay are numerous vessels, both sail and steam.

The tug Pioneer trails black smoke as she steams out of the entrance towards a larger vessel in the roadstead. To the left chugs the little locomotive of the Natal Railway Company, white smoke emerging from its funnel. An ox-wagon trundles along the road in the middle distance.

Buildings cluster together in the town, and the green vegetation of the Berea, then 'a pleasant wooded hill', is in the foreground, with well-observed details of colonial life at the time. One gets the distinct impression that Mr Currie has just stepped out of the picture and will return shortly to take tea and resume his viewing by telescope of the fascinating panorama spread out below.

[Painting in collection of the Local History Museum, Old Court House, Durban]

Cape Shipping 1829 including Conch under Cobern

The schooner Conch was making regular sailings carrying colonial produce and passengers between Algoa Bay and Table Bay, and other ports, before William Bell took over her command. Here she is under another master, Cobern, variously given as 'J' and 'T' but probably the same person. Extract from SACA 31 Dec 1829.

Ships in Algoa Bay in the 1820s, by Thomas Baines

Baines 1820 – 1875: artist, explorer and photographer

Born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, the son of a master mariner, Thomas Baines was educated at Horatio Nelson's Classical and Commercial Academy. 

He started his working life in 1836 as an apprentice to an ornamental carriage builder but soon turned to painting and studied under the heraldic painter William Carr. 

In 1842, wishing to see more of the world and inspired by explorer artists like George French Angas and William Cornwallis Harris, he left England on the Olivia, bound for Cape Town.

He arrived at Cape Town on 23.11.42 and worked as an apprentice to a cabinet maker, an ornamental sign-painter, then from 1845 as a portraitist and painter of marine subjects.

 Later Baines based himself in the eastern Cape. Many adventures and explorations were to follow.

He is of particular interest to me because he painted my g g grandfather, Capt William Bell's, schooner Conch arriving at Port Natal in 1842, towing boatloads of troops to raise the siege of the British Regiment at what is now called the Old Fort. Baines was not present in Natal for this event but painted his famous work from a drawing by an eye-witness. It remains one of his most well-known and recognisable works.

Conch 1842 entering Port Natal

He was not only a prolific painter but was an early exponent of the photographic art, many of his works showing him busy capturing images or setting up his equipment.

Later his magnificent paintings of the Victoria Falls would bring him renown. However, he also left a wealth of Natal views including Durban from Mr Currie's Residence - a snapshot in time showing the town in the 1870s.  molegenealogy.blogspot.co.za/2012/11/durban-in-1870s-mr-curries-view.html

Ships and Mariners: 19th c Cape and Natal 5 Bell

During a routine call at Algoa Bay at the end of May 1842, Captain William Bell became caught up in dramatic events. Conch had made a quick, boisterous passage from Table Bay in gale force winds, Bell remaining on deck throughout the voyage and on arrival suffering from a severe cold and rheumatic pains. He was attended to by Dr Davis at the house of John Owen Smith’s brother-in-law, Mr Jarvis, while Conch’s Mate saw to the unloading of the cargo. 

Preparations for the return passage to Table Bay were in progress when Major Selwyn, R.E., came galloping into the town, bringing news that the British garrison at Natal were under siege after their defeat by trekker forces.

Bell, his cold forgotten, offered his services as he was the only master present who had previously been to Natal and Conch the only vessel then lying at Algoa Bay which was fit to cross the bar at the entrance to Port Natal. Major Selwyn felt that Bell was the very man required, explained the circumstances which had led to the garrison being besieged, and informed him that a company of the 27^th Foot already on its way from Grahamstown would be embarked on Conch to be conveyed to Natal.

The story is told in a number of sources, including Bell’s own account published posthumously as the Narrative of the Entrance of the Conch at Port Natal.*

http://web.archive.org/web/20070505065951/http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/conch.htm

This historic landing is further immortalized in the painting by Thomas Baines from a pencil sketch made by an eye-witness of the event.

The schooner Conch is seen easing over the swell at the Bar in a light easterly breeze, with fore-course, fore-lower-topsail,fore-upper-topsail and gaff fore-sail set on the fore-mast, with main-sail and gaff-topsail set on the mainmast and the Red Ensign flying proudly at the stern. No doubt there are several stay-sails set between foremast and jib-boom but obscured by the fore-sails. Towed astern are a number of boats carrying troops as well as sailors to man the oars for the final landing. The Red Ensign, originally used to denote the senior squadron of the fleet, was abolished in 1864, then becoming the ensign of the British Merchant Service when it became known as the ‘red duster’. Patches of smoke can be seen issuing from enemy guns concealed on the Bluff.


*Narrative of the Entrance of the Conch at Port Natal with troops to relieve Captain Smith, when Blockaded by the Boers in June 1842 by William Bell, who commanded the Conch, and late Port Captain at Port Natal. Printed at the Natal Mercury Office, Durban, 1869. Now a rare piece of Nataliana, this edition has been published in reprint form.